Joe Dante directing 'Bat Out of Hell'

Friday, May 16 2008, 09:03 BST

By Simon Reynolds, Movies Editor

Rex Features

Gremlins helmer Joe Dante will direct the independent horror film Bat Out of Hell, reports Variety.

The veteran filmmaker's latest movie focuses on a hijacked red-eye flight heading from Los Angeles to New York that carries mysterious cargo.

The script comes from Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan.

Dante's last feature film was 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action. He also directed both Gremlins films, Piranha, Small Soldiers and the Masters of Horror TV series.

MOVIES NEWS

• Day-Lewis 'lacks dancing confidence'
• Gabourey Sidibe: 'My first diet was at 6'
• 'Thor' director impresses Marvel creators
• Cameron: 'Action movies are chopped salad'
• Blake Lively: 'Being naked wasn't weird'
• Roman Polanski 'will fight extradition'
• Lautner: 'Transformation was hard work'
• 'Shield' writer to pen 'Underworld 4'
• Bay won't kill off Fox in 'Transformers 3'
• Lautner 'challenged' in 'Twilight' role

Movie Interviews

Zac Efron ('Me And Orson Welles') We chat to Zac Efron and Claire Danes at the premiere of Me And Orson Welles.

Also: Romola Garai ('Glorious 39'), Duncan Jones, Stuart Fenegan ('Moon'), Ang Lee ('Taking Woodstock'), Daniel Barber ('Harry Brown'), Video: Firth, Zemeckis ('A Christmas Carol'), and Colin Firth ('A Christmas Carol')

Hottest Movie Trailers

Worldwide Box Office Roundup

'2012' destroys UK box office competition

'2012' soars to top US box office

'2012' tops Australian box office

Forum Buzz